Amicus June 2017

As a responsible business, we have
a vital role to play in helping to
build a better and more inclusive
society. We are passionate
about projects that help to
transform South Africa and
its people and actively
support a range of
education initiatives.
I
n 2013, Old Mutual committed R350 million over seven years, towards improving the South African education system. The process
is largely driven by the Old Mutual Education Flagship project (OMEFP) and focuses on investing in Grade 12 maths and science
education, uplifting underperforming schools and improving teaching and school management.
There are some amazing success stories coming out of this project and some shining stars from the OMEFP matric class of 2016.
Beating the odds in Dimbaza
18 year-old Christine Bobo, a former
Kuyasa High School pupil from Dimbaza,
Eastern Cape, lives with her three siblings
and they survive on her grandmother’s oldage
grant, often going without basics such
as electricity.
To add to Christine’s challenges, Kuyasa
High did not have a mathematics teacher
for almost a year, so the school’s physical
science teacher tried to double up as a
mathematics teacher as well.
Christine put in many long, hard hours
of study, and despite the challenges, she
passed Grade 12 with three distinctions:
in geography, life orientation and
natural science, and achieved 62% in
mathematics and 74% in science.
Mr Tonya, the substitute maths teacher,
also entered Christine and two other
learners for a Science Olympiad
sponsored by Eskom at the University of
Fort Hare. They came 2nd in the Quiz
category and 1st in the Poster and Projects
category.
Christine is now enrolled at the University
of the Witwatersrand for a BSc degree,
and is awaiting approval of her NSFAS
application for funding.
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2017/05/30 12:15 PM